Helsinki is not all just art, culture and architecture. The city also caters well to the fun loving and the younger generation. There are two zoos, an aquarium and a science centre for those who like to combine fun with learning. The real young ones will love showing off their building skills at Lego land, which also has something for the whole family.

Fallkulla Domestic Animal Zoo
Fallkulla Zoo is run by the City of Helsinki Youth Department and offers children the opportunity to get up close and personal with animals on a traditional farm. There are sheep, goats, cows, pigs, chicken, ducks, geese and horses. Children and the young at heart can also join in animal care and help out with work on the farm. Phone: +358 93108 9094.

Heureka, Finnish Science Centre
Heureka is a hands-on exhibition centre. The Verne planetarium theatre shows wonderful movies and science programmes. Children can work as weather reporters at the Special effects exhibit, cycle on a tightrope spanned four metres above the ground or test what it’s like to walk on the moon. The Children’s Laboratory is aimed at children aged between 5 and 12 years. Here they can perform guided chemistry experiments for about 30 minutes at a time. Phone: +358 985 799; website: www.heureka.fi/portal/englanti

Korkeasaari Zoo
Founded in 1889, this is one of the oldest zoos in the world, home to around 200 species of animals from the arctic tundra to the tropical rainforest. It is also home to nearly 1,000 different plant species. Protecting endangered species is one of the zoo’s main concerns. The rhino sign will lead you to the animals that belong to the zoo’s collective protection programme. Phone: +358 9 3103 7900; website: www.korkeasaari.fi/index_eng.html

Lego Show Helsinki
This is a theme park for the whole family, featuring Lego-characters, Lego building competitions, trampolines and sports activities. There are several ‘construction sites’, where Lego master builders assist the children. There is also a restaurant and air castles. Phone: +358 20710 9902.

Linnanmäki Amusement Park
Linnanmäki opened its gates in 1950 and offers a huge selection of fun rides, from scary to the more sedate. The unique wooden rollercoaster is over 50 years old and is still the most popular ride. The park also has several arcade halls with the latest games as well as an outdoor stage hosting entertaining performances. Phone: +358 20 385 677; website: www.linnanmaki.fi/en

Art aficionados will love Helsinki and its huge number of top quality museums and galleries. Helsinki is also a key city for design and architecture. Apart from the many art museums, the National and Maritime Museums trace the city’s history to its vibrant roots. The Seurasaari Open-Air Museum provides a unique experience with its island location.

Ateneum Art Museum
This museum contains Finland’s largest art collection, exhibiting Finnish art from the 1750s to the 1960s and western art from the second half of the 1800s to the 1950s, including numerous national treasures. Here you will come across Finland’s golden age and modern masters, from Albert Edelfelt to Helene Schjerfbeck. The Ateneum Hall is part of the museum complex and stages a variety of events and activities. Phone: +358 9 1733 6401; website: www.ateneum.fi/default.asp?docId=12532

Design Museum
This specialist museum selects and maintains a collection of design objects. It also serves as a research and documentation institute and holds exhibitions focusing on design history and contemporary artefacts. The permanent exhibition is complemented by temporary Finnish and international themed exhibitions on historical and modern design. Phone: +358 9 622 0540; website: www.designmuseum.fi

Didrichsen Art Museum
This private museum owes its existence to Marie-Louise and Gunnar Didrichsen, who bought all the artworks together. When deciding on what works to buy, it was important to them that they both liked them. The collection is made up of Finnish art from the 20th century, including names such as Cawen, Edelfelt and Schjerfbeck. The modern international art collection includes works by Picasso, Miro, Kandinsky and Moore. Phone: +358 9 4778 330; website: www.didrichsenmuseum.fi

Maritime Museum
The permanent exhibitions at the Maritime Museum show the history of shipbuilding, life on board a ship, steam technology, merchant shipping, winter navigation and the history of diving. The exhibits include objects salvaged from the sea. The boat hall displays fishing and pleasure boats and the restored lightship Kemi, built in 1901, can be seen at the quay outside the museum. Phone: +358 9 4050 9055

National Museum
The National Museum of Finland traces Finnish life from prehistoric times to the present. The permanent exhibition is made up of six departments. The Treasure Troves exhibit the museum’s collections of coins, orders, medals, decorations, silver and weapons. The Prehistory of Finland is Finland’s biggest archaeological exhibition. The Realm traces the history of Finnish culture and society from the Middle Ages until the beginning of the 20th century. Phone: +358 9 4050 9544

Hungry visitors in Helsinki are spoiled for choice. The Finnish culinary culture has embraced international tastes, while it is keenly in synch with the possibilities and challenges the different seasons offer. There are fine restaurants serving formal evening meals, while others dish up specialities such as seafood, steaks or vegetarian cuisine. Why not try an artists’ haunt or sample some delicious ethnic food. Despite its relatively small size, Helsinki boasts more than 800 restaurants.

Finnish cuisine includes such staples as Baltic herrings, salmon and other fish. Salmon comes in many forms, uncured, salted or smoked and adds delicacy to many gourmet meals. Reindeer meat is another Finnish speciality, since Lapland in the north is home to hundreds of thousands of these semi-domesticated animals. Berries grow very well in Finland, both wild and in gardens, and are popular ingredients in many savoury dishes.

The Punavuori district is home to many stylish eateries, whose kitchens are at the forefront of culinary invention. Many of the Russian restaurants in Helsinki have high culinary standards. Whatever you fancy, if a restaurant has an outdoor terrace, don’t miss the chance to enjoy a meal in fine weather.

Shopping is a great way to burn off all those calories and a hole in your pocket. Almost all the major shopping malls, department stores and small boutiques are within easy walking distance of each other.

A walk around the Esplanadi will take you to most of Finland’s best-known design stores. Stockmann and Sokos are the main department stores. Just a couple of hundred metres from each other, they are both well-known for their premium brands and wide-ranging selections of goods.

For smaller, unique boutiques, Fredrikinkatu is the street for bric-a-brac and fashion, and Annankatu for antique furniture. The largest and best markets are the Market Square, located by the South Harbour and the Old Market Hall nearby, where shoppers can buy superb fresh food and handicrafts. Aleksanterinkatu, the long pedestrian street linking Mannerheimintie with the Senate Square, is home to many shops and a number of department stores. It is a fine place to get clothes, footwear and jewellery.

The newest addition to Helsinki’s shopping scene is Itäkeskus, meaning ‘eastern centre’, and that is precisely what it is; a new urban centre in the eastern part of Helsinki, linked with the city centre by metro. In its heart is an immense mall, lined with outlets of the best-known retailers in addition to numerous restaurants and cafés.

Helsinki’s many parks provide many of the outdoor activities in the city. Jogging and cycling in summer, or skiing and skating in winter are popular activities here. Fishing can be done right in the heart of the city, while the traditional sauna is a classic.

Cross-country, downhill skiing and snowboarding
Helsinki has over 180kms of skiing tracks. The best tracks are in Helsinki’s Central Park, and skiing gear is available for rent from the Töölönlahti Recreation Centre (tel: +358 9 4776 9760). Downhill skiing and snowboarding can be enjoyed on several hills around Helsinki, such as Serena, Alhovuori and Talma.

Fishing
Helsinki’s clean waters are perfect for fishing. You just need a traveller’s fishing permit, which is available from the Stockmann Department Store or local fishing shops. The shoreline along the Old Town Rapids has been preserved especially for fishing.

Parks
No less than a quarter of Helsinki’s total area is made up of parks. Ever since the 18th century, green areas have been a fundamental element of the city’s planning. You are never far from the nearest park in Helsinki. Located in the heart of Helsinki, the Esplanade is a promenade for tourists and a place to unwind for city residents. Several popular events are hosted by the park and the Espa Stage. Kaivopuisto Park is Helsinki’s oldest and best known park, surrounded by embassies and villas. Nearby is the sea, while rock cliffs and green lawns provide various chances to rest and enjoy the outdoors.

Saunas
The sauna is the traditional Finnish pastime and social meeting place. Most of the better hotels have a sauna. Traditionally, every Finnish city had a public wood-heated sauna. Today, there is only wood-heated public sauna left in Helsinki, the Kothiharjun Sauna (tel: +358 9 753 1535). Here you can experience a real Finnish sauna in recently renovated premises.

Skating
In winter, dozens of skating rinks can be found in Helsinki, many of which are located close to the centre of town. A popular skating centre is the Kallion tekojäärata at Brahen kenttä, which plays music and sells warm juice and hot chocolate. Skates are also available for rent here. There are also several indoor skating rinks.

Swimming
Helsinki’s 315 islands and 100km-long seashore offer many swimming opportunities in the summer. The best beaches are at Mustikkamaa, Uunisaari, Pihlajasaari, Hietaniemi and Sevrasaari. However, those from warmer climates may find the Baltic waters too chilly, even in July.